Meghan Markle’s surprising presence at Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday party, which attracted considerable attention, is now supported by the reasons why she showed up in the first place.
Speaking to Page Six, an insider said, “She was definitely in networking mode.”
Describing the Duchess of Sussex as “cool”, the source revealed, “She schmoozed with a lot of power players.”
The Duke and the Duchess of Sussex reportedly made their appearance styled in black tie, joining the Hollywood cohort at Kris Jenner’s birthday celebrations. The party was thrown by the Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez, at their $165 million Beverly Hills estate Saturday night. According to the reports, the bash was also hosted by Jenner’s kids, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Rob Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Kendall Jenner.
Accompanied by celebs including Beyoncé and Jay Z, Martha Stewart, Mariah Carey, Oprah Winfrey, Paris Hilton, Adele, and all the Kardashians, the couple appeared to be an oddity at the event in the eyes of the royalty.
Sharing intimate photos from her star-studded 70th birthday party, the 70-year-old momager celebrated her milestone with a James Bond-themed celebration.
The post was captioned with, “Magical night celebrating my 70th birthday with beautiful family and friends.”
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According to Cosmopolitan, the snapshots of the royal couple were included in the Instagram posts shared by both Kim and Kris. However, the news outlet revealed that they were later deleted. US Weekly observed that the carousel previously included a picture of Meghan and Kim posing together while Prince Harry was engaged in a conversation with someone in the back.
According to Page Six, palace insiders were outraged by the couple’s presence at Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday bash, adding that it explains why the couple shouldn’t be embraced back in the royal fold.
Per the news outlet, the insider who worked with the royal family said, “It’s so tacky.”
“It truly shows that Harry is so far removed from the rest of the family. These people may be stars in America, but the pure ostentatiousness is at odds with what Prince William is trying to do with his life and the monarchy, ” the insider added.
Interestingly, on Jenner’s guest list was Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who is rumored to share disputable relations with Prince Harry and the Suits actress.
In January 2025, the couple slammed the billionaire for “contributing to a global mental health crisis”, following Meta’s controversial decision to scrap fact-checking and restrictions on free speech.
The couple’s appearance underscores how deeply entrenched the Sussexes are with Hollywood, considering Bezos’ company is making Markle’s upcoming movie, Close Personal Friends.
Per the reports, the 44-year-old mother of two will play herself in the romantic comedy, having landed the cameo owing to her “connection” with the filmmakers. Made by Amazon MGM, the movie is being produced by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger. Although Markle filmed her cameo last week, there is no official confirmation as to her official return to acting, per Page Six.
Speaking to the news outlet, an industry source said, “That’s overstating things.”
The simmering outrage of the royal family against the couple stems from the expectations that the royalty has of Prince Harry. They believe that despite their entrenchment in Hollywood, Harry, 41, should be brought back to the royal family to help his estranged brother, Prince William, when he acquires the throne.
However, the insider added, “William has made it clear that he has a plan for being king, and he has true class. I think he will look at the younger royals to help, including Prince Edward’s children.”
Speaking to Schitt’s Creek star Eugene Levy, Prince William said, “I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda.”